Lake Forest High School Reaches Out to Economically Challenged Students

Five years ago, a group of education-minded individuals in neighboring School District 113 serving Highland Park and Deerfield learned that obstacles, other than purely financial, were inhibiting capable, motivated students when applying to, attending and graduating from college.

With a shared belief in the value of a college education, these community members worked together to find a solution, and the nonprofit College Bound Opportunities (CBO) organization was established.

CBO assists disadvantaged students with achieving their academic goals by providing financial support and a coach that works with the student on a one-on-one basis from their junior year in high school through to college graduation. 

Fast forward to 2011 and CBO is celebrating its first group of participating students who are graduating this spring from the University of Illinois, Purdue, DePaul, Eastern Illinois, Marquette and Iowa. CBO Executive Director Susan Bell explained that on average, 50 percent of disadvantaged students who start college graduate. The CBO program increases that number to 96 percent, she said.

Community Needs Grow

Superintendent Dr. Harry Griffith believes District 115's perceived affluence gives way to a reality that “we have an increasing number of capable students that have good quality GPAs and do good course work, who would benefit from participating in the CBO program."

“Historically we have had about 2.5 percent of economically disadvantaged students at Lake Forest. We now are at 4.5 percent,” said Griffith, who noted the growth translates from 40-50 students to 100-110 students living with very difficult economic circumstances.

The growth of economically challenged students is not due to a change in Lake Forest High School's demographics, according to Anne Whipple, director of communications.

“Rather the state of the depressed economy appears to be having an effect on families all over the country — including in the Lake Forest High School community," Whipple said. "Our community is not entirely immune to the economic downturn that is devastating other parts of the country.”

Quintet is LFHS' first CBO class

Lake Forest High School officially joined CBO on Feb. 6 when five students were inducted into the program. They will receive an annual college scholarship of $4,000 per year for four years.

“But this is not just about money,” said Griffith. “CBO provides children with a potpourri of services.”

For example, students receive one-on-one assistance with interpreting ACT scores, tutoring, navigating the college application process, exploring aid sources and the overall challenges of college life as a disadvantaged student.

There is neither an income cut off nor a minimum number in a family who can qualify to apply.  “Each situation is unique” said Bell. "However, we do see trends of lower level incomes, single family households and students who upon graduation will be first generation professionals."

The students' one-on-one contact comes from coaches from the beginning of their relationship with CBO until they graduate college. Coaches must be able to make a six-year commitment and go through a screening process that includes an interview.

“We want to make good matches,” said Bell. “I have seen lifelong relationships of families with the student. The time commitment is not much, but the emotional commitment can’t be qualified."

CBO is attracting a waiting list of qualified volunteer coaches, but needs to obtain further funding to admit a larger pool of qualified students.

For more information, visit www.cbo4edu.org.